Shipping Time for Custom Prints Explained
A made-to-order print is produced after you order, so the clock starts in the workshop, not the warehouse. Here is how the timeline actually breaks down.
A custom print typically ships within 3 to 5 business days of ordering, with delivery adding 2 to 7 business days depending on destination. Framed pieces and canvas editions run toward the longer end because framing happens after printing. For a date-bound gift, order at least two weeks ahead.
How the Timeline Actually Works
The shipping time for custom prints is not one number but two. Production comes first. A print is made after the order is placed, which takes roughly 3 to 5 business days for canvas and slightly longer when a frame is involved, since the frame is cut and assembled around the printed sheet. Only then does the parcel enter the carrier network.
Transit follows. Domestic deliveries usually land within 2 to 4 business days after dispatch, while international shipments can take 7 to 14. A reader planning around a birthday or an event should count from the order date, not the dispatch date, and add a buffer. Anyone comparing formats can see how a canvas edition differs from a framed poster in both weight and handling time.
The honest caveat is that no timeline is guaranteed. Carriers miss windows, customs holds happen, and a busy production week can push a dispatch back a day or two. Ordering two weeks ahead of the date that matters removes almost all of that risk.
What Slows a Made-to-Order Print
Four factors do most of the work. Size is the first. A large format takes longer to print, dry and inspect than a small one, and oversized pieces may travel in sturdier, slower packaging. Framing is the second, because it adds an assembly step between printing and dispatch.
Destination is the third. A domestic address moves through one carrier. An international one crosses customs, and a hold there can add days that no seller controls. The fourth is order volume around holidays, when production queues lengthen across the whole category. Readers weighing size against room can use the guide to choosing a print size for a small living room before ordering.
None of these are hidden costs. They are visible at checkout in the estimated delivery date, which already accounts for production. Treat that estimate as the planning number and the calendar buffer as insurance.
What affects delivery
- Large formats need longer print and inspection time than small ones
- Framed orders add an assembly step after printing
- International shipments can be held at customs without warning
- Holiday order volume lengthens production queues for everyone
Ordering Against a Deadline
For a gift or an event, work backwards. Take the date the piece must be in hand, subtract 5 to 7 business days for transit, then subtract another 5 for production. That gives the latest safe order date. A week of slack on top turns a tight plan into a calm one.
It is worth stating plainly that editions by Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas are not currently offered here, so anyone seeking his work in print form will need to look elsewhere or wait for the catalogue to change. The timelines described above apply to the made-to-order editions that are available, such as a canvas print of a coastal scene or a framed poster for a hallway. Readers deciding on format can check whether a framed poster with a protective cover suits their wall before committing to a date.
Once ordered, tracking begins at dispatch. The tracking number arrives by email, and from that point the remaining days are visible rather than estimated.
The clock starts in the workshop, not the warehouse, and most missed gifts were ordered too late, not shipped too slowly.
| Stage | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 3 to 5 business days | Longer for framed pieces |
| Domestic transit | 2 to 4 business days | Begins at dispatch |
| International transit | 7 to 14 business days | Customs can add delays |
Typical timeline for a made-to-order print
Key takeaways
- Custom prints ship in 3 to 5 business days, with delivery adding 2 to 14 more depending on destination.
- Framed orders take longer than canvas because framing happens after printing.
- International shipments carry customs risk that no seller can control or guarantee.
- Order at least two weeks before the date the piece must arrive.
Related questions
How quickly can I receive a made-to-order print?
Fastest realistic door-to-door time is about one week for a domestic order, combining 3 to 5 days of production with 2 to 4 days of transit. International orders should be planned around two to three weeks. Express shipping speeds transit but does not shorten production, which is the longer half of the timeline.
Does expedited shipping skip the production queue?
No. Expedited shipping applies only to the transit leg. Every print is produced after the order is placed, so paying for faster delivery shortens the journey, not the making. If a deadline is tight, order earlier rather than paying for speed that cannot touch the production days.
What happens if my print arrives late for the occasion?
Carriers occasionally miss estimates, particularly across borders. Tracking begins at dispatch, so a delay is visible early. If a parcel is lost or arrives damaged, the refund policy covers a replacement or a refund. The strongest protection remains a buffer of several days between the estimate and the date that matters.
From the Auvrique collection
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